Oct 22, 2018, 3:44 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
GS Qualifying for 2019 Discussion
This will be a discussion thread, for discussing the needed qualifications and timing of notification.
For posing formal notifications (but no discussion), use this thread Global Services 2019 Notifications (ONLY)
2019 GS Timeline
First requal notifications came out on 6 Dec 2018
First-time notifications started about 3 Jan 2019
Numerous reports that all regular notifications will be out by 11 Jan 2019
Initial successful reconsideration appeals reported 15 Jan 2019
First reports of challanges15 Jan 2019
For discussion of GS benefits, please use Consolidated Global Services Thread: Benefits, Questions 2018First-time notifications started about 3 Jan 2019
Numerous reports that all regular notifications will be out by 11 Jan 2019
Initial successful reconsideration appeals reported 15 Jan 2019
First reports of challanges15 Jan 2019
For 2017 qualifications, see the 2017 thread and for 2018, see the 2018 thread
To find your PQDs if >than $12K
Go to
MileagePlus activity since my last statement and it is in the "Account summary" table at the top of the page.
Note this is not just the UA operated PQDs (which is commonly believed to be what matters for GS) but rather your total PQDs.
Definitions
BIS is actual scheduled flight distance (Great Circle Mileage Distance -- GCM) between airports with 500 mile minimum for elites. This is the standard used for Lifetime miles also. Those flying mostly sub-500 segments sometimes prefer to not use the minimum rule.
The definition for CPM is a bit vaguer, especially since CPM is used in multiple different situations.
Believe for the purpose of this thread, GS qualification, folks are using
PQD CPM = UA PQDs / UA BIS
Note there is no direct evidence UA uses this CPM number for GS Qualification but it is a number FTers like to use.
As for BIS, UA does not report this number your account and it needs to be manually tracked.
One way is to make use that PQMs are based on BIS but there may be a multiplier / bonus for high end fares. If always in 2x PQMs, you could divide by 2 to get BIS.
rwsteelers had a good method for determining UA BIS -- the change in Lifetime Miles from the first of the year.
Hello:
To help with collection of qualification metrics for global services, I created a Google Doc. This will be useful for future members. For ease of use, I created a form which feeds into a spreadsheet. The spreadsheet and form does not require a google account and is free to use.
Similar spreadsheets were created in years past, so I'm hoping to continue this tradition. Please take the time to enter your stats into the spreadsheet. Many thanks
LINK to entry form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1SYm...xRKZ_EUD8/edit
View responses here ( read only ):
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...it?usp=sharing
To help with collection of qualification metrics for global services, I created a Google Doc. This will be useful for future members. For ease of use, I created a form which feeds into a spreadsheet. The spreadsheet and form does not require a google account and is free to use.
Similar spreadsheets were created in years past, so I'm hoping to continue this tradition. Please take the time to enter your stats into the spreadsheet. Many thanks
LINK to entry form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1SYm...xRKZ_EUD8/edit
View responses here ( read only ):
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...it?usp=sharing
GS Qualifying for 2019 Discussion / Questions
Sep 26, 2018, 12:22 pm
#91
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Pacific
Programs: UA GS, Lifetime 4 MM, BA Gold, , Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite, Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 476
Currently sitting at 90 PQS, 500K PQM, $67K PQD, 379K BIS. I will end the year at around 80K PQD.
I need 200K more in BIS to make it to 4 Mil. I may reach that in 2019.
I need 200K more in BIS to make it to 4 Mil. I may reach that in 2019.
Last edited by MostlyUA; Sep 26, 2018 at 12:55 pm Reason: add additional info
Sep 26, 2018, 5:17 pm
#92
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Somewhere in EWR
Programs: UA GS, HH Diamond
Posts: 858
Well, your intrepid Original Poster has just booked his final trips for the year and after missing last year with 272K PQM, 187PQS, $51,164PQD, 133,130BIS and a CPM of .38 I'm going to finish this year with 256KPQM, 173.5PQS, $53,617PQD, 121,668BIS and .44CPM. I'm hoping to get in this year.
Sep 26, 2018, 6:41 pm
#93
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,424
With 100k PQD in the trailing two years, I'd say you have a shot. Good luck!
Sep 26, 2018, 6:51 pm
#94
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Somewhere in EWR
Programs: UA GS, HH Diamond
Posts: 858
Sep 26, 2018, 9:30 pm
#95
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LBB
Programs: UA 1K 1MM ★G | Marriott LTT | Hilton ♦ | Hertz PC | Global Entry TSA Pre ✓
Posts: 2,820
Well, your intrepid Original Poster has just booked his final trips for the year and after missing last year with 272K PQM, 187PQS, $51,164PQD, 133,130BIS and a CPM of .38 I'm going to finish this year with 256KPQM, 173.5PQS, $53,617PQD, 121,668BIS and .44CPM. I'm hoping to get in this year.
Sep 27, 2018, 5:06 am
#96
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Somewhere in EWR
Programs: UA GS, HH Diamond
Posts: 858
With a couple INTL trips planned it would be nice to get the points+GPU perk for the wifey.
Sep 27, 2018, 7:29 am
#97
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LBB
Programs: UA 1K 1MM ★G | Marriott LTT | Hilton ♦ | Hertz PC | Global Entry TSA Pre ✓
Posts: 2,820
Good luck... hope it works out for ya.
Sep 27, 2018, 9:34 am
#98
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,480
Sep 27, 2018, 9:45 am
#99
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LBB
Programs: UA 1K 1MM ★G | Marriott LTT | Hilton ♦ | Hertz PC | Global Entry TSA Pre ✓
Posts: 2,820
I would agree with this.... though my own hopes of qualifying again after this year's hiatus as a 1K are now diminishing based on this case, even though my previous 3 years average out to around $50,000 PQD while I will land on $43K this year.... I think I'm stuck at 1K for a while until I have a big int'l travel year again.
Sep 28, 2018, 8:51 pm
#100
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: UA MileagePlus 2MM
Posts: 1,567
typo
EWR Based
Was GS in 2016 but can't find stats.
2017 GS
UA BIS 114,412
UA PQD $62k
UA PQM 237,000
2018
UA BIS 42k
UA PQD $29k
UA PQM 85K
Future 2018 flight about PQD 20k, maybe 16K BIS, and 32k PQM
Have flown about half of 2017s travel but my spend will be 50k v 64k in 2017. Barely breaking 1k! Will be interesting to see if I get GS again...
Adam
Was GS in 2016 but can't find stats.
2017 GS
UA BIS 114,412
UA PQD $62k
UA PQM 237,000
2018
UA BIS 42k
UA PQD $29k
UA PQM 85K
Future 2018 flight about PQD 20k, maybe 16K BIS, and 32k PQM
Have flown about half of 2017s travel but my spend will be 50k v 64k in 2017. Barely breaking 1k! Will be interesting to see if I get GS again...
Adam
Sep 29, 2018, 5:04 pm
#101
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,098
EWR Based
Was GS in 2016 but can't find stats.
2017 GS
UA BIS 114,412
UA PQD $62k
UA PQM 237,000
2018
UA BIS 42k
UA PQD $29k
UA PQM 85K
Future 2018 flight about PQD 20k, maybe 16K BIS, and 32k PQM
Have flown about half of 2017s travel but my spend will be 50k v 64k in 2017. Barely breaking 1k! Will be interesting to see if I get GS again...
Adam
Was GS in 2016 but can't find stats.
2017 GS
UA BIS 114,412
UA PQD $62k
UA PQM 237,000
2018
UA BIS 42k
UA PQD $29k
UA PQM 85K
Future 2018 flight about PQD 20k, maybe 16K BIS, and 32k PQM
Have flown about half of 2017s travel but my spend will be 50k v 64k in 2017. Barely breaking 1k! Will be interesting to see if I get GS again...
Adam
Sep 29, 2018, 5:28 pm
#102
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: UA MileagePlus 2MM
Posts: 1,567
My flying got off to such a slow start this year. Had some family stuff really make it difficult for me to get away. Then I was on Jury duty for over a month. I think I was over $85PQD in 2016 so even if I am under $50k spend in 2018 my three year average is well over the magic 50 if I hit say $45PQD this year. I have one confirmed trip which will get me to $29k, and then one more to London which I could push to $16k RT or at least 2x $8k o/w's. I hold out no credence in CPM but over the years I have heard GS look at past spend. But I hope with (roughly) $45k PQD all on UA and around 100k BIS miles this is probably the highest cpm I will hit. Just need to make sure UA doesn't pull a 1K fast one (where earnings are clearly laid out) on hiking the secretive and mysterious ways of GS. What a great game this is, if you like flying 
Oct 10, 2018, 6:44 am
#103
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LBB
Programs: UA 1K 1MM ★G | Marriott LTT | Hilton ♦ | Hertz PC | Global Entry TSA Pre ✓
Posts: 2,820
Thank Goodness... Got a $14K PQD booking TPAC for late next week that will push me from $32K to $46K. Hopefully this will be enough to push me over the hump to qualify once again from 1K to GS. I will probably tack on another $5000 PQD in domestic and Canada before year's end to hit $50K.
Now MCO based and not DEN anymore.
Now MCO based and not DEN anymore.
Oct 10, 2018, 8:05 am
#104
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: '19 Global Services, 1.9m+ lifetime CO miles
Posts: 103
stupid question - what is "BIS"? and how is it calculated? apologies.
Thanks
Thanks
Oct 10, 2018, 8:09 am
#105
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BOS<>NYC<>BKK
Programs: UA 4.3MM LT-GS; AA1MM; Amtrak SE; MAR LT TITAN; PC Plat; HIL DIA; HYA GLOB
Posts: 4,393
Butt-In-Seat. Actual air miles you fly on UA/UX (codeshares do not count -- it must be real UA/UX metal). The only exception is you get a minimum 500 miles for flights under 500, if you are a premier member of MileagePlus.